Contest is not limited to Washington State residents.
All Contestants must perform on acoustic instruments; fiddle must be 4 strings, guitars 6 string, all with standard tuning.
All winners are responsible for picking up their awards.
Contestants must register, no later than 30 minutes prior to the beginning of the their division.
In any division having less than 5 contestants, contest manager may decide to combine divisions, or reduce prize money for the division in half.
Upon signing the contestant registration form, all commercial recording, photo and video rights are reserved and shall become the property of the Fred Oldfield Western Heritage Center.
Each contestant and accompanist will be entitled to one guest badge.
Each division, except the Buckaroos, will play two rounds and possible hoedown championship.
Contestants in each division, except picking/twin fiddle must first play a hoedown, waltz and a tune of choice - other than a hoedown or waltz. 5 minute time limit. 10 points will be deducted from the total score for each additional 30 seconds. There will be a 10 second grace period following the 5 minutes. City Slicker final rounds will be allowed 6 minutes. ----These are changes from previous years----
Contestants may play with back up. Fiddle contestants- with not more than two. Picking contestants, who choose to use back up must have different instruments backing them up than what they are competing on.
No trick or fancy fiddling is allowed during the contest appearances, except in the CITY SLICKER division.
Everyone will be allowed one false start per performance (a bad start, wrong beginning of tune, starting tune other than that intended).
Contestants who perform in the finals are not allowed to duplicate the songs they performed in the elimination rounds.
Points will be scored on dance ability, intonation, difficulty and production of tone (fiddle only).
PICKING DIVISIONS will play two tunes of a traditional nature; one fast, one slow in two rounds with possible tune of choice championship- 4 minute time limit. All picking styles will be allowed, including finger picking. Top scores will determine winners, regardless of instrument. Please see note above on back up (#10)
No sheet music on stage.
Twin fiddle rules are posted separate.
Contest Manager has the final say. Any dispute must be in writing, signed by 3 contestants and submitted within 30 minutes of division end.
Audience Participation is allowed between contestant tunes (clapping).(NEW)
Good sportsmanship is expected of all. Let's have a good time.